Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has said the opportunity to establish an accountable system of government and reform the state created by the July mass uprising has been held hostage by power politics and a bureaucratic vicious cycle, a year after the July National Charter was signed.
TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman made the remarks in a statement on Friday, expressing concern over the direction of state reforms and the government’s decisions on constitutional changes, judicial independence and accountability.
According to Iftekharuzzaman, the interim government failed to make the most of the opportunity created by the July mass uprising because of a lack of strategic planning and political courage, alongside compromises with bureaucratic resistance.
Following the 13th parliamentary election, the legal, institutional and bureaucratic ecosystem has continued to be shaped by power politics, he said. The reform process has therefore remained constrained by political interests rather than being directed towards establishing an accountable system of government.
The decisions taken by the government have raised questions about its commitment to the reform agenda, particularly where changes depend on political consensus and the willingness of those in power to accept greater accountability.
Constitutional reform faces political obstacles
The ruling alliance’s position on constitutional amendments and state reform, alongside opposition parties’ pursuit of partisan gains, has complicated the implementation of the reform agenda.
The ruling party had presented a 31-point agenda and pledged in its election manifesto to implement state reforms and the July National Charter “to the letter”.
However, ruling party members of parliament refused to take the oath as members of the proposed Constitutional Reform Council despite having supported the referendum, raising questions about the implementation of the reform commitments.
The role of the Constitutional Amendment Committee has also become part of the wider debate over the future of the reform process and the extent to which political parties are prepared to honour their commitments.
Accountability measures rolled back
The interim government issued 133 ordinances, many of which the current government has since enacted. However, decisions to repeal or suspend accountability-related ordinances while enacting measures that make executive powers less accountable have raised concerns about the direction of reform.
The slogan “Now it is our turn” has also drawn attention in the context of questions about whether the political transition is delivering institutional change or reproducing existing patterns of power.
Among the measures repealed were the Supreme Court Secretariat (Amendment) Ordinance and the Supreme Court Judges Appointment Ordinance.
Instead of proceeding with the amended bill concerning the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), the government returned to the ACC Act 2004.
The National Human Rights Commission Ordinance was also repealed and replaced with a new law. The ordinance on enforced disappearances was repealed, while legislation was introduced that, according to the criticism raised over the changes, protects the agencies concerned.
Although the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) was said to have been abolished, the force was further empowered under a new name.
The absence of an independent police commission has also raised concerns about accountability in law enforcement. Similarly, there has been no clear indication that asset declarations required within three months of taking office are being implemented.
Oversight institutions face setbacks
The decisions affecting the judiciary, law enforcement agencies, the ACC and the National Human Rights Commission have raised broader concerns about the independence of institutions responsible for ensuring accountability.
Iftekharuzzaman’s concerns centre on the risk that institutions meant to provide oversight could become partisan, weakening their ability to hold the executive branch accountable.
The developments have also raised questions about whether the reform process is addressing the institutional weaknesses associated with authoritarian rule or allowing similar patterns to persist under a new political arrangement.
The concerns extend beyond individual ordinances or institutions to the wider system of checks and balances, including the independence of the judiciary and the effectiveness of mechanisms designed to investigate abuses and prevent the misuse of state power.
TIB urges parties to uphold reform commitments
TIB has called on political parties to uphold the consensus reached on the July National Charter and follow through on their commitments to state reform.
The organisation has stressed the importance of implementing the agreed reforms to strengthen democracy, improve governance and ensure social justice.
It has also warned against allowing partisan interests and bureaucratic resistance to undermine the opportunity for meaningful institutional change created by the July mass uprising.
TIB’s call comes amid concerns that failure to honour the reform commitments could leave the country vulnerable to a return to authoritarian rule.
